NUJ: Extension of bail of Belfast journalists to March ‘a travesty of justice’

The NUJ has described the decision of the PSNI to extend the bail of journalists Trevor Birney and Barry McCaffrey as ‘a travesty of justice’.

On August 31st 2018, two journalists, Trevor Birney and Barry McCaffrey were arrested in Northern Ireland and released on bail after sensitive documents belonging to the office of the Police Ombudsman of Northern Ireland were featured in a documentary produced by both men.

Their documentary, ‘No Stone Unturned’, which was released in 2017 alleged police collusion in the Loughlinisland attack carried out in 1994.

The journalists reported for questioning to Musgrave PSNI station on 30 November as a consequence of their arrest in August 2018 and in connection with their work on the award winning documentary film. Bail was extended until 1 March 2019.

Following their arrest Durham Constabulary said:

“Officials from Police Ombudsman of NI reported the theft to the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) who in turn asked Durham Constabulary to conduct an independent investigation.”

PONI ‘Denial’

However, the PONI has denied it made the complaint which prompted these arrests.

A ‘travesty of justice’

Séamus Dooley, NUJ assistant general secretary, said the extension of bail was ‘a travesty of justice’.

“We had naively hoped that the PSNI would lift the threat of prosecution against Trevor Birney and Barry McCaffrey. The Police Ombudsman has stated that no complaint has been made to his office of a theft of confidential documentation, thus removing the central plank of this vindictive investigation.”

The NUJ had called on the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Simon Coveney, to ‘intervene’ on this issue.

Patrick Corrigan, Amnesty International’s Northern Ireland Programme Director, said the arrests of journalists and the seizure of their documents and computer equipment ‘threatens press freedom in Northern Ireland’.

“The arrest of two of the most widely respected journalists in Northern Ireland has sent a shiver of fear through media in the region.“Journalists must be free to investigate and expose issues of public concern without fear of arrest. When the police are arresting journalists who have investigated police collusion in the killing of civilians, rather than the killers and their helpers, then we all should be deeply worried.”

-Patrick Corrigan, Amnesty International

Ten years of research went into the documentary, which tells the story of a massacre in a rural country Co Down pub in 1994 when masked men shot locals in the bar, leaving six dead and five injured.

According to the NUJ the film also reveals a ‘litany of corruption involving police, paramilitary gangs and the army – before, during and after the killings’.

Fianna Fáil Justice Spokesperson, Jim O’Callaghan had said it is clear that there are ‘important questions that require answers’ following the fall out over the arrests over two Belfast journalists.

Speaking earlier in November, Jim O’Callaghan said:

“Given that conflicting positions have emerged regarding the source of the complaint which triggered these arrests, it’s clear that there are important questions that require answers.“If it is indeed accurate that no complaint was made to police regarding these documents then the rights of both of these men have been breached and there must be accountability for these actions.”

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